An Australian jury has unanimously found Cardinal George Pell guilty on five charges of "historical child sexual offenses" dating back decades, America Magazine reported.

A 12-member jury delivered the verdict Tuesday in the County Court of the State of Victoria in Melbourne. A gag order issued in June by presiding Judge Peter Kidd has prohibited the Australian media from reporting on the trial and verdict, according to the Catholic News Agency.

The Australian Cardinal, who was appointed as prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, is the most senior official to be convicted of sexual offenses of this nature. Some media outlets have reported him as the third ranking Vatican official, but according to America Magazine, that information is incorrect.

Pell, 77, was a member of Pope Francis' C9 Council of Cardinals, an advisory body on church governance and reform. He was removed in October, along with Cardinals Javier Errazuriz and Laurent Monsengwo. The cardinal had been on leave from his duties since 2017 while he defended himself. He has denied the charges.